Can Bleach Be Used as a Weed Killer?

Can Bleach Be Used as a Weed Killer? Weeds and grass consistently grow in driveways, between pavers, and in all yards. Therefore it is essential to control them to maintain your yard in the best possible shape. You can use the best weed killer for driver ways to get rid of the annoying weed. However, if you don’t have a commercial remedy available at home, you can make use of effective home remedies such as bleach and vinegar as a weed killer. Most people are confused about bleach if it can be used as a weed killer? The answer is yes, you can use bleach as a weed killer, but since it is toxic for health, here is a proper procedure and precautionary measure one should consider before using bleach as a weed killer.

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Can Bleach Be Used as a Weed Killer?

YES, you can use bleach as a weed killer with some predefined precautionary measures.

You can use bleach as a weed killer but you must take some precautionary measures before using bleach for plants as a high quantity of acid in bleach can kill the plants if used in excessive quantity.

How to Use Bleach as a Weed Killer

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Bleach comes with a high level of chlorine. If used in small quantities, the bleach is beneficial for plants, but using it in high concentrations can burn and kill plants due to the high acid pH. Take a look at an effective way to use bleach as a weed and grass killer.

• Take a garden spray pump and pour undiluted bleach into it.
• Spray this bleach directly onto the weeds in the yard, driveways, and between pavers.
• Repeat the process after 2-3 days on the remaining weeds and grass.
• Pull out the dead weeds and grass to keep your yard clean.
• If you have sprayed diluted bleach on weed, it is important to repeat the process 2-3 times to kill stubborn weeds such as creeping Charlie, dandelions, crabgrass, wild onion, and horsetail.

Chlorine bleach can affect the growth of plants and weeds in two different ways.  First, the sodium content overworks the system of the plant with salts. Also, chlorine is an important aspect of soil; an excessive amount can cause a condition known as chlorine toxicity. Concentrated bleach has a pH level of 11, which means it improves the pH of soil crucially.

A high pH level inhibits the nutrient intake such as iron, calcium, and magnesium necessary for proper plant nourishment. With salt-jammed passages and poor nutrition, the plant leaves turn brown and look burnt. Once the bleach has penetrated, the yard soil is no longer suitable for planting.

As you see, concentrated bleach can be harmful to soil; there are some alternative bleach mixtures for weed killing.

Related: How Long after Weed Killer Can I Plant Grass Seed?

Bleach and Dish Soap as Weed Killer

Take one cup of Clorox and mix it with one cup of water. Now add a tablespoon of dish soap and mix all the ingredients properly. Pour this solution into the garden sprayer. Spot-spray the weeds in driveways, yards, walkways, and gravel areas with this mixture. Let the solution sit for 2-3 days to all weeds and grass.

The dish soap acts as a surfactant to help bleach solution stick onto the leaves of weeds. The bleach will be more effective in this way to kill stubborn weeds.

Vinegar and Bleach as a Weed Killer

Vinegar is an effective weed killer, especially in undiluted form. You can use both vinegar and bleach to make powerful homemade herbicides. If you are dealing with stubborn weeds, don’t dilute these two solutions.

Apply the vinegar directly on weeds between driveways and pavers to kill and prevent weeds from sprouting. Now follow the process with a light bleach spray to kill the weeds permanently. Don’t mix both household chemicals as vinegar and bleach can cause an unwanted reaction.

Precautions for Using Bleach

Bleach is highly corrosive and may burn skin or irritate your eyes. Also, bleach can cause damages to concrete surfaces. It is essential to take the following precautions before using bleach as a weed killer.

• Always wear gloves and goggles before using bleach.
• Don’t forget to pre-test the solution before spraying the whole yard.
• Never plan to use bleach on a windy day. The spray particles may blow into your nose, eyes, and ears.
• Don’t mix bleach with other chemicals without proper knowledge about their reacting natures.
• Avoid using excess bleach on the garden soil. Always wait for few days to check the results.
• Make sure there are no animals, elderly people, or children around you when you are spraying.

If you want to plant anything on the same spot, use a lot of water to flush it down to dilute the acidity in the soil. Make sure to repeat flashing for few months before planting. Add some manure and fertilizer in order to neutralize the acidity.

Using Bleach on Walkways and Driveways

Driveways and sidewalks are common places in the garden where weed tends to grow. The cracks and crevices on these ways accumulate soil on which weeds and unnecessary grasses germinate.

Pour undiluted bleach on the weeds and wait for 2-3 days. Uproot the dead weeds to clean the driveways. You can also use a scrapping tool to get rid of the small weeds that are difficult to hold and pull out. Remember, bleach can discolor driveways or any hard surface if used for killing weeds growing in the cracks.

Using Bleach between Pavers

The weed may grow between the pavers due to the spaces they crawl into. For instance, a common Bermuda grass can be a stubborn weed that is hard to kill.

You can pull broadleaf weeds with your hands or with a weed killer. If you don’t want to do so, pour Clorox into the spaces between prays to get rid of the weeds and grass. It also helps to prevent any vegetation from growing in such places.

Using Bleach on Gravel and Rocks

Gravel driveways can cause issues with weeds, especially if there is no heavy cover over the soil beneath them. The ideal way to kill weeds and grass on a gravel driveway is to use concentrated vinegar or bleach sprays.

Spray undiluted bleach on the weeds to cover them effectively. Repeat the process after 2-3 days to ensure all weeds are killed.

Final Words

Remember, bleach is highly acidic in nature, and it is essential to take precautionary measures before using it as a weed killer. It takes 2-3 days to kill weeds, and you will see that weeds will start turning brown, drooping, and wilting. Stubborn weeds may take longer than 3 days. So, it is recommended to try more than one round of spraying bleach onto the weeds to kill them permanently.

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